Mayor of Kazan takes part in Olympic torch relay in Tatarstan's capital

(KZN.RU, December 31, by Alisa Rozanova) Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin participated in the Olympic torch relay in the capital of Tatarstan under the number 167. The mayor carried the torch along Kremlyovskaya St. from the Spasskaya Tower of the Kazan Kremlin to the next transfer point of the Olympic Flame – near the National Museum of Tatarstan.

At the finish line, Ilsur Metshin shared his impressions and compared the event with the welcoming of the Universiade torch in Kazan last July.

"Six months ago, when we were carrying the torch of the Universiade 2013, there was a weight of responsibility: everything was only about to start... Today I, as an ordinary Russian citizen, carried the Olympic torch and was very anxious. It turns out that it is a very pleasant feeling – just to be a torchbearer. I am proud to have been given this honor!” said the Mayor.

Another honorable duty for the Mayor of Kazan was giving an award to the 9,000th participant of the Olympic torch relay in Russia . Ilsur Metshin handed Ilsur Karimullin the “Olympic stick" and expressed hope that it would "bring us gold  in hockey at the Olympics."

"The Sochi Olympics is a historic event, and it is a great honor for the city to welcome the torch of the 2014 Games. I wish success to our colleagues – the organizers of the Olympics – and wish our athletes many occasions to be proud of at the Sochi Games, so that the Olympics becomes another golden page of the new Russia!" said the Mayor and wished everyone a happy New Year.

The torch continued to make its way through the streets of the capital of Tatarstan. The relay will finish at the Kazan-Arena stadium with the Olympic Flame lighting ceremony.